SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Mac Jones isn’t just looking for a job; he’s looking for a franchise. After a season where he effectively saved the San Francisco 49ers from a mid-year collapse, throwing for 2,151 yards and 13 touchdowns in eight starts, the 27-year-old quarterback made one thing clear on Wednesday: He remembers how to win.
The Reset Button Worked
When Jones arrived in Santa Clara last offseason, his stock had plummeted. A rough exit from New England followed by a quiet stint in Jacksonville left many wondering if the former first-rounder was done as a starter. Fast forward to February 2026, and the narrative has flipped. Jones stepped in for an injured Brock Purdy (turf toe) and didn’t just manage games—he won them. His Week 5 performance—a gritty 26-23 overtime victory against the Rams where he threw for 342 yards—proved he could still sling it in high-leverage moments.
“I call it ‘wi-fi,'” Jones told NFL Network regarding his connection with head coach Kyle Shanahan. “We’re just a really good match.”
“I have my swag back, and I feel like that’s important for me. I can go out there and win games for whoever.” — Mac Jones, 49ers QB
The Sam Darnold Blueprint
The elephant in the room isn’t just Jones’ performance; it’s the guy playing in the Super Bowl this Sunday. Sam Darnold followed an almost identical trajectory—flaming out early, resetting under Shanahan for a year, and then bolting for a starting job. Darnold turned his 2024 stint with the 49ers (and a strong 2025 with the Vikings) into a massive opportunity with the Seattle Seahawks, who are now days away from facing the Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
Jones sees the parallel. “I see why now,” Jones said of Darnold’s resurgence. “I’ve learned so much this year… You can see it on the tape, there’s a lot of crossover.”
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
The 49ers have a decision to make. Jones is under contract through 2026, giving GM John Lynch a valuable trade chip. With Purdy healthy and entrenched as the starter, Jones is too expensive (and perhaps too talented) to sit on the bench if a QB-needy team comes calling with a Day 2 pick. Jones says he’d be “excited” to return, but he also dropped a subtle hint to the rest of the league: “I’ve proven I can be a starter… I know how to do it.”
Expect the phone lines at Levi’s Stadium to heat up before the draft. If a team like the Giants or Raiders strikes out on a rookie, Jones offers a plug-and-play solution with the Shanahan seal of approval.
